Starksehested8299
Imaging of musculoskeletal disorders, including arthritis, infection, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and malignancies, is often limited when using conventional modalities such as radiography, computed tomography (CT), and MR imaging. As a result of recent advances in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) instrumentation, total-body PET/CT offers a longer axial field-of-view, higher geometric sensitivity, and higher spatial resolution compared with standard PET systems. This article discusses the potential applications of total-body PET/CT imaging in the assessment of musculoskeletal disorders."The initial experience of using total-body PET/computed tomography (CT) (uExplorer) in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, is described. Compared with conventional PET/CT, total-body PET/CT imaging provides more comprehensive information for evaluation of disease. Using fludeoxyglucose F 18, regular-dose (3.7 MBq/kg), low-dose (1.85 MBq/kg), or extra low-dose (0.37 MBq/kg) scanning, as well as high-quality imaging, protocols were used in clinical practice according to the situation. Dynamic studies were also used to assess tumor biological characteristics or for radiotracer angiography."New protocols for imaging cancer have been developed to take advantage of the improved imaging capabilities of long axial field-of-view PET scanners. Both research and clinical applications have been pursued with encouraging early results. Clinical studies have demonstrated improved image quality and the ability to image with less injected activity or for shorter duration. With the increased sensitivity inherent in total-body PET scanners and new imaging paradigms, new challenges in image interpretation have emerged. New research applications have also emerged, including dosimetry, cell tracking, and dual-tracer applications.The high sensitivity and total-body coverage of total-body PET scanners will be valuable for a number of clinical and research applications outlined in this article.Total-body PET image reconstruction follows a similar procedure to the image reconstruction process for standard whole-body PET scanners. see more One unique aspect of total-body imaging is simultaneous coverage of the entire human body, which makes it convenient to perform total-body dynamic PET scans. Therefore, four-dimensional dynamic PET reconstruction and parametric imaging are of great interest in total-body imaging. This article covers some basics of PET image reconstruction and then focuses on three- and four-dimensional PET reconstruction for total-body imaging. Methods for image formation from raw measurements in total-body PET are described. Challenges and opportunities in total-body PET image reconstruction are discussed.Following successful performance testing and human imaging of a prototype PennPET Explorer, the scanner has been expanded to a current axial field of view of 1.12 m. Initial studies on this instrument have demonstrated encouraging results for total-body positron emission tomography imaging. Planned studies will test the capabilities of the PennPET Explorer further and inform the design of further human imaging protocols.Cardiovascular conditions can exist as part of a systemic disorder (eg, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, or vasculitis) or have systemic consequences as a result of the cardiovascular insult (eg, myocardial infarction). In other circumstances, multisystem evaluation of metabolism and blood flow might be key for evaluation of multisystemic syndromes or conditions. Long axial field-of-view PET/computed tomography systems hold the promise of transforming the investigation of such systemic disorders. This article aims at reviewing some of the potential cardiovascular applications of this novel instrumentation device.
Sports therapists can influence an athlete's psychological response to injury. At present it is unclear whether sports therapists are sufficiency trained in psychology.
To understand the views both of practising clinicians and students regarding the extent to which sports therapy education addresses psychological factors in injury management.
Cross-sectional study.
Online Questionnaire.
Qualified sports therapists (n=30) and sports therapy students, (n=33).
Sports Therapist and Sport Psychology Questionnaire.
The questionnaire included five subsets of questions (5-point Likert scale or multiple-choice). Internal consistency of each subset was rated via Cronbach's alpha (α, 95% confidence interval) as good (questions 5 & 6; α 0.81, 0.68 to 0.88) or as excellent (scale questions 3-4; α 0.91, 0.85-0.95, question 8, α 0.97, 9.6 to 9.8, questions 7, 11 & 12; α 0.94, 0.91-0.96; and questions 9 & 10, α 0.96, 9.4-9.8).
Both groups recognised psychological components as either 'important' or 'very important' in rehabilitation. They reported a need for psychological skills in injury management, and more psychology training during education. While 80% of qualified therapists identified a duty to treat psychological components, only 45% of students concurred.
Future sports therapy education should consider placing greater emphasis on the psychological components of injury management in order to sufficiently equip therapists with appropriate skills for practice.
Future sports therapy education should consider placing greater emphasis on the psychological components of injury management in order to sufficiently equip therapists with appropriate skills for practice.
People with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) often exhibit generalized weakness that affects several activities of daily life, particularly those relying on balance and gait. While it is known that such a symptom has a strong impact on mobility, to what extent muscular strength is linked with functional mobility in men and women with MS remains mostly unexplored. The aim of this study is to assess the existence of possible sex-related differences in functional mobility in pwMS, also considering the muscular strength capacity.
Functional mobility and hand-grip strength (HGS) were assessed in 49 pwMS with mild-moderate disability using instrumental Timed-up-and-go (TUG) test carried out using an inertial sensor and digital dynamometry. We investigated the existence of sex-related differences in the duration of each TUG sub-phase and their correlation with the HGS.
No sex-related differences in TUG performance (either in terms of overall or sub-phase time) were found. Similar large negative correlations were found in men and women with MS between HGS and overall TUG and walking phase duration.
